Disclaimer: I neither own Reign, nor profit from this story.

#1

Mary was six years old and it was her first time being away from her mother and from Scotland for so long.

She had known that she was the Queen of Scotland for several years now, although she didn't fully know what that meant. She did know that her mother was once the Queen of Scotland and there were certain things that she did do and others that she did not.

She knew that Queens were prim and proper and that they didn't cry over such trivial things as being separated from one's mother or on young princes that wouldn't slow down when they were supposed to be playing together. However, she was only six and it had been a very long day…a very long week for that matter and she was tired of the travel, and of the badgering and of the should's and should nots…

She had only six days ago arrived in France and she did not feel like a Queen, she felt like a lost little girl who was not yet ready to make Queenly decisions.

Her ladies and her servants had tried to help her but they just could to possibly give her the answer she was looking for. She had tried to send them all away but they just kept coming back with more words, and more scolding, and more disapproving frowns…

"You need to choose your Majesty"

"It's almost time your Majesty"

"All of Court will be waiting for you your Majesty"

"We really must hurry your Majesty"

"It will not serve as a good impression to be so late for something in your honor your Majesty"

Your Majesty this, your Majesty that, your Majesty, your Majesty, your Majesty!

Her Majesty was about to crumble into a pile of tears if even once more she heard those hated words.

Finally the servants had dwindled down to just a few who were tidying up her room from the whirlwind that had just gone through it.

And then she heard it.

Three simple words that righted her world once again…

"Leave us now."

Not spoken harshly. Not spoken with venom, or worry, or haste.

Spoken like a mother, to a daughter, a six year old daughter who could care less that a crown already weighed too heavily on her little head except that she now felt that she could not possibly go on for fear of ruining everything.

Coming to sit beside her, Catherine de Medici, Queen of France, and for all intents and purposes her equal, took Mary's hands in her own and waited a moment before speaking.

"Well it seems that you've stared your career as Queen quite seriously and frightened all of your servants away." Mary looked up at the stately Queen to find not a frown, not a grimace, not a angry or harried scowl like all the rest, but a kind smile and inquisitive eyes.

Lip trembling and eyes filled with tears, Mary let our a sob as she buried her head in Catherine's bodice and wrapped her little arms around her waist. Catherine in response simply combed her hand through Mary's thick deep red tresses and spoke comforting words into her ear.

When she finally stopped bawling Mary picked up her head and looked at the other Queen worried that she had already ruined it. Instead all that came from the older woman's lips was a simple question. "What is the matter child?"

Taking a few deep breaths to try and compose herself Mary answered as clearly as she could, though her words were barely spoken above a whisper.

"It is my first ball and I can't decide what shoes I should wear."

Nodding her head Catherine answered,"Ahhh, I see. A most important decision for a Queen indeed. Well then we shall have to pick them out together, hmmmm?"

Confused at her calmly rational response Mary further inquired, "but I should already know these things? I am a visiting Queen and this ball is in my honor. How can I be a Queen if I cannot even pick out my own shoes?"

Smiling down at her Catherine picked up one of her tiny hands and gently moved a few locks of hair behind her shoulder with the other. "Because my dear, though you are a Queen, you are also young, and have plenty of time to learn more about such Queenly things. as picking out your own shoes for an important ball. For now why don't you just come with me and I can share with you…one Queen to another, what I might choose if I were in your place and you can decide if you agree."

Blinking up at the older Queen, Mary took a moment to digest what she had said and solemnly nodded.

Pausing for a moment, Catherine held up her finger to indicate her desire for Mary to wait just a little longer.

"There is just one more thing you should know Mary," she spoke firmly.

Waiting for either a reprimand or a lesson in Queenly behavior, Mary prepared herself for the worst and so she was quite surprised with the answer that came back.

"The first rule of being a Queen is that one must always smile."

Relief flooded Mary at her answer.

Somehow despite everything else seeming to go wrong the Queen did not seem upset in the least.

But before she could digest much more Catherine continued, "And you see, the best smiles always start in your toes, and work their way up to your heart. There they are filled with all the love you have for your people and the pride for your country so that by the time it reaches your lips and your eyes it sparkles as bright as the stars in the sky."

Catherine ended with such a warm smile on her own lips that Mary hugged her once more before placing her little hand in the soft hands of her now surrogate mother and rose to go finish dressing for the ball.

Perhaps being a Queen wouldn't be nearly so terrible after all.